Re: OT: Customs (< USAGE: "draughts")

On 1/26/07, li_sasxsek@nutter.net <li_sasxsek@...> wrote:
>
> > Now I'm confused. I suppose you're ana American (i.e. leftpondian) and
> > therefore you reply is only agreewing with Mark's description of
> > American English? or are you talking about some northern variant of
> > English/Scottish English?
>
> Yes, "leftpondian", though I'm originally from the "left coast" which is
> on the right side of the other pond.

Yes, but I imagine Tristan's confusion comes because I explicitly directed
my question to Rightpondians, and you didn't preface your reply with "I'm
also an American, but.." or anything.

And there is only one Pond; the Pacific is a proper ocean. :)

No, in American usage, it's always spelled "draft" whether it's used for
> drawing, beer, or military enslavement.

First, you're overgeneralizing - the spelling "draught" is somewhat archaic,
but not totally dead, even in the US.  I see it frequently in the sense of
"on tap" in bar signs.  Second, your biases are showing - please refrain
from referring to military service, even the conscripted kind, as
"enslavement", lest we venture into cross -and-crown territory.

What really annoys me is when cashiers hand back the change with the receipt
> on the stack of bills.  I don't know what worthless overpaid yuppie "expert"
> went around telling businesses to do this, but it annoys the crap out of me
> as I now have to separate it from the pile of money handed to me so I can
> put the cash away in my wallet.  I liked things much better when they just
> put the receipt in the bag, or at least handed it over separately.

Well, since the receipt goes in my wallet with the bills - at the back, not
intermingled - it works fine for me.  Perhaps my behavior in this regard is
somewhat common and was the motivation for the practice.

--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>

Reply